WINNIPEG -- The Canadian Centre for Child Protection says it has received close to 350 reports in the last 10 months of sexual images being shared online without people's consent.
Nearly half of the cases, from across Canada, involved teenagers between 15 and 17.
Officials from the non-profit group were on hand Monday as the Manitoba government announced a new law is now in effect to fight so-called "revenge porn" and other forms of online exploitation.
"Manitobans can now sue, to make those who wrongfully distribute sexual pictures financially accountable," said Manitoba Attorney General Gord Mackintosh.
Mackintosh says the law is a sign that the legal system must work to keep pace with technology.
The law, initially promised last spring, allows anyone in Manitoba whose intimate images are distributed without their consent to sue the perpetrators.
It also empowers the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to help take down the images and assist victims with going to the police.
"Someone could come in to us and report that there's this image on this site, and we've seen it removed that day," said Signy Arnason from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.
Winnipeg police were also on hand to remind victims of online sexual exploitation they don't have to be held hostage by the situation.
"Everything can be fixed. That's what I tell most young people, is that everything can be fixed. And we will fix it." said Det. Sgt. Esther Schmieder from the Winnipeg Police Service.
- With files from CTV's Jon Hendricks.
